A green screen is just that… A green-colored piece of material, which can be paper, cloth, or another solid medium.¹ This screen is typically placed in the background of a scene as the shot takes place with Actors performing or other activity happening on camera.

It should be noted that a green screen’s placement might also be in another specific section of a shot if need be. For example, a green screen might be placed over a television prop if the Filmmakers want to later swap in footage to be played on the TV during the shot.

Think of green screens as placeholders for a visual that will replace it later in the filmmaking process. But why need a placeholder at all?

Because as mentioned earlier, filmmaking is all about make-believe. Green screens are used so that audiences can see our favorite movie characters go to battle in Wakanda or walk on the surface of Mars.

A quick and concise overview of what a green screen is and how to make it work to your advantage.

Green screens are even used for those favorite characters! With the help of this tool, we can see and enjoy the performances of Hulk, Smaug, or King Kong.

All to say, through the use of green screens and the computer-generated imagery or CGI that later replaces it, Filmmakers have never had more freedom to bring to life the stories that once upon a time were too outlandish, otherworldly, or expensive for it to be shown on-screen.²

Most people consider green screens a more recent visual effects development in filmmaking. To some extent, they’re not wrong! But long before the first computer-generated imagery was used in film, there was the green screen. Or rather, blue screen.

Back when movies were actually filmed on celluloid stock, blue was the more compatible color for the later compositing of images. But with the overwhelming popularity of digital filmmaking – though there are some notable Director holdouts – Filmmakers came to realize that green was the preferable color with this new medium.³

So while versions of the green screen have been part of making movies since the early 1900s, it was with the rising use of computers in the 1980s and beyond when green screens specifically also became a common part of filmmaking.

With current green screen technology, the sky’s the limit in terms of making images that otherwise could not be created in real life on account of cost, manpower, or other constraints.

The production part of using a green screen is pretty straightforward. The screen is set up prior to the filming of a shot during principal photography with the help of the On Set VFX Supervisor. Whomever or whatever is being filmed in front of the green screen is then put into place. The shot is then filmed.

From there, the footage is sent along to the post-production team. Because the green screen will be replaced with computer-generated imagery, often that GCI footage will be started on by Graphic Artists well before the shot is even filmed.

When that footage is ready to get swapped in for the green screen, the post-production team can instruct the software they are using to remove from the footage all green color. This is how green screening – also called chroma keying – works.⁴

The transparency created in the footage when the green disappears from the shot is replaced with the CGI footage. And now you have your completed composited shot with the footage layered together!

A fantastic overview of the technical side of how a green screen works.

The creativity and technical knowhow that goes into making computer-generated imagery is both impressive and expensive. In large part, it’s why all those Marvel movies come with price tags in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The next time you watch Iron Man or Captain Marvel, make sure to sit through the end credits. You will inevitably see huge blocks of names, all Graphic Artists of varying kinds who spent countless hours creating these beloved films.

The point being, while it is a relatively simple process to set up a green screen for production purposes, it’s essential to keep in mind the execution and affordability of the computer effects that will replace it if you decide to go that route.

So how did green screens become green? Why not pink screens or yellow screens or some other color?

The reason why Filmmakers landed on green as their color of choice is because human skin generally does not contain green tones.⁵ Because of that, the color green can be entirely removed from a shot without it affecting the look of Actors or Actresses.

A thorough breakdown of how green screens can be useful in filmmaking and when to not use it!

That being said, we’ve already mentioned that Filmmakers of the past often went with blue screens instead because of its better compatibility with celluloid film. And they still do on occasion!

This might be done because something within the shot needs to be green—and if you were to use a green screen, that part of the shot would disappear.

Blue screens aren’t used as commonly nowadays as green screens, but they can still be highly effective when necessary and similarly do not affect the look of the Actors.

Yes! You absolutely can purchase or make your own green screen.

While big-budget movies like The Avengers or Mission Impossible – Fallout are often the type of movies people think of when discussing green screens, this tool has become a common staple for much, much smaller movies. Meaning that you can use it for yours!

Or if you decide to shoot a short film. Or YouTube video. Or commercial. Green screens can be used for any type of visual medium.

Green screen isn’t only for blockbuster movies! This video demonstrates the many different ways you can use green screens.

But where to buy them? You have many options from online outlets to local retail stores. And depending on your needs, you can find a quality green screen for less than $20.⁶

Another option is going to your local fabric or craft store to buy the material for a green screen. So long as you get a solid green color when buying that cloth, paper, or other material, it should do the trick.

Another note: Make sure what you’re buying isn’t going to reflect back light – AKA create hot spots – or reflect back on your Actors and Actresses.

If you have a studio space where you intend to use green screen on a regular basis, you could also paint the back wall green to avoid having to assemble and take down your green screen with each filming session.

To work with a green screen in post-production, you’ll specifically need green screen editing software. Some of the most popular options include:

• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Camtasia
• Final Cut Pro
• HitFilm
• iMovie
• Lightworks
• Movavi Video Editor
• PowerDirector
• Shotcut
• VSDC Video Editor

Each option comes with its own pros and cons, so try out a few different options should you have the opportunity to do so before committing to one.⁷

Green screens might be affordable, but what you don’t want is to spend more money than you have to when using them!

That means making sure you stage your shots correctly before sending off your footage to post-production to avoid having your team later inform you that the footage is not usable.

Check out the incredible visual transformation that takes place when green screens are swapped out for computer-generated imagery.

Some tips when working with green screens⁸:

1. Don’t wear green! Make sure your Actors and Actresses are not wearing anything with green tones, as it will affect the quality of the shot once your green screen editing software removes that color from it.
2. Try to stick with solid colors regardless. The Marvel movies might be able to include highly detailed costumes in their green screen shots, but if you want to maximize your chances of using a green screen successfully, have your Actors wear solid-colored costumes. In some cases, patterned attire can appear “wiggly” against a green screen.
3. Use a green screen that fits your needs. If you’re going to commit to using a green screen, check, double-check, and triple-check the dimensions you need for your shots. What you don’t want is realizing too late that your green screen doesn’t cover the space you need to successfully chroma key it in post.
4. Make sure your shots are lit well. Making a film noir? Then you might want to reconsider your green screen on account of the low-key lighting you’ll likely be using. To make your time in post-production easier, make sure that each shot that includes a green screen is lit well with the green screen material thoroughly anchored to the wall or a steady object without creases, folds, or wrinkles in the material.

Green screen technology has become a vital filmmaking tool for movies of every scale and budget. Though some aspects of making movies can be cost prohibitive for creatives just starting out, even the novice Filmmakers can use a green screen at minimal cost.

Filmmaking has always been about bringing to life the imagination of Screenwriters, Directors, and other creatives in this industry. The introduction, popularity, and affordability of the green screen has only further pushed the boundaries of what is possible to show on-screen.

Don’t let the technical side of green screen technology dissuade you from using one. Rather, consider it an entryway to creating the unique cinematic world you want exactly as you want it!